Milliosmole

Milliosmole (mOsm) is a unit of osmotic pressure used in biochemistry and physiology. It is a measure of the concentration of solutes in a solution, and is commonly used in the medical and scientific fields to describe the concentration of electrolytes and other solutes in the body's fluids.

Definition

A milliosmole (mOsm) is one-thousandth of an osmole, which is a unit of osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the pressure that needs to be applied to a solution to prevent the inward flow of water across a semipermeable membrane. It is directly proportional to the concentration of solute particles in the solution.

Usage in Medicine

In medicine, the milliosmole is used to measure the concentration of solutes in the body's fluids, such as blood plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. This measurement is important in diagnosing and managing a variety of medical conditions, including dehydration, diabetes insipidus, and hyponatremia.

For example, the normal range for serum osmolality, which reflects the body's water balance, is typically between 275 and 295 mOsm/kg. Abnormal levels can indicate a variety of health problems, such as kidney disease, heart failure, or diabetes.

Measurement

Measurement of milliosmoles is typically done in a laboratory setting using an osmometer. This device measures the freezing point depression or boiling point elevation of a solution, which is directly related to the osmotic concentration.

See Also

• Osmolarity
• Osmolality
• Osmotic pressure
• Osmoregulation